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For most poker players, reaching the World Series of Poker Main Event final table is a lifelong dream. For Glen Gardener resident Michael "Gags" Gagliano, it's now reality.
The four-time WSOP bracelet winner has outlasted 9,208 entrants to reach the final nine of poker's biggest tournament, becoming one of just a handful of New Jersey players ever to make it this far. Guaranteed a payout of at least $1 million, Gagliano returns to Las Vegas this week with a shot at the tournament's $10 million top prize.
If history is any indication, that's a good place to be.
The last New Jersey player to reach the Main Event final table was Brigantine's Scott Blumstein, who captured the 2017 championship and an $8.15 million payday.
Now Gagliano, a longtime BetMGM Poker ambassador and one of New Jersey's most accomplished poker professionals, has a chance to add another chapter to the state's poker legacy.
"It was definitely a relief," Gagliano said of reaching the final table. "I played poker for so many days straight and was just tired. Playing poker live for that many days in a row is mentally and physically exhausting."
The 41-year-old's journey to poker's biggest spotlight started decades ago in his mother's living room in Rockaway.
Long before he was winning bracelets and collecting millions in tournament earnings, Gagliano was organizing games with friends and family. Poker was part of the mix, but so were countless other card and board games.
"We played home games in high school, just for pennies, all the crazy old classic card games," he recalled.
What attracted him wasn't necessarily the money. It was the strategy.
Even today, after more than two decades as a professional player, Gagliano remains fascinated by the blend of mathematics, psychology and uncertainty that sets poker apart from other competitive pursuits.
More: Central Jersey bar named one of best in US. What to try when you go
"Poker is the perfect combination of strategy, hidden information and hidden answers," he said. "Even after you make a play and see the result of the hand, there's no way to know for sure if what you did was correct."
Originally from Staten Island, Gagliano moved to Morris County as a child and graduated from Morris Hills High School in 2003.
He later attended Rutgers University, earning a geology degree in 2007. But while he enjoyed science, poker increasingly demanded his attention.
The poker boom of the early 2000s coincided with Gagliano's college years, and he immersed himself in strategy books, online forums and emerging theory.
"I was fascinated by the game and got into trying to figure out strategies," he said. "Throughout college, I just kind of got more and more into it and started making money."
Eventually, poker income eclipsed what he earned at his regular job.
After becoming frustrated with that job, Gagliano decided to head to Las Vegas for the summer and see where poker might take him.
His original plan wasn't to become a professional player.
"Maybe in the back of my mind I was thinking that," he said. "But my mom was very much saying, 'After the summer, you're going to get a new job, right?'"
The new job never came.
Instead, Gagliano built a career that has produced more than $3.3 million in live tournament earnings and four WSOP bracelets.
These days, Gagliano lives in Hunterdon County with his wife and two children, ages 9 and 12.
As television cameras followed his run through this year's Main Event, his family watched from home.
"I play live a handful of times a year, but the opportunities to be on streams and television are limited," Gagliano said. "Now that my kids are getting a bit older, they like seeing what I do."
He said reaching a televised final table created a special experience for his family, many of whom had never been able to watch him compete on such a large stage before.
The support has extended far beyond relatives.
Gagliano said his phone filled with messages from former classmates, poker friends and people he hadn't spoken to in years.
More: 5 Central Jersey bars we wish made USA TODAY's list of the best
"It was just so cool seeing the support from people online and on social media," he said. "Just to know that they remembered interacting with me however many years ago and wanted to reach out and say they were rooting for me was really nice."
While poker fans know Gagliano for his tournament results, his influence extends beyond the table.
Since 2009, he has coached more than 100 players and has spent years helping others improve their games.
He's also become a respected voice within the online poker industry. As a BetMGM Poker ambassador, he helps provide feedback on tournament structures, schedules and player experience.
Earlier this summer, he launched a free mobile app called the "Summer Poker Calendar" to help players navigate the hundreds of tournaments taking place throughout Las Vegas during the WSOP.
The project reflected something that's become increasingly important to him over the years: giving back to the poker community that helped shape his career.
Despite his accomplishments, Gagliano says the Main Event final table represents something different.
"Being at the final table is every poker player's dream," he said.
The tournament resumes Aug. 3-5 at Paris Las Vegas, where nine players remain in contention for poker's most coveted title.
When play resumes, Gagliano will return with 46.5 million chips and a chance to turn a childhood hobby into a $10 million victory.
He insists he hasn't spent much time thinking about what winning would mean.
If it happens, maybe there will be a family vacation.
For now, he's focused on the same thing that first drew him to the game years ago.
"I've been at many final tables, both live and online, and even though this is the biggest stage, it's still just a tournament," Gagliano said. "I'm just going to try to stay grounded, make the best decisions I can and see what happens."
And after years of preparation, one New Jersey poker pro now finds himself just nine players away from history.
email: [email protected]
Cheryl Makin is an award-winning feature, news and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Only 9 remain. A NJ poker pro is chasing $10 million
Continue reading...
The four-time WSOP bracelet winner has outlasted 9,208 entrants to reach the final nine of poker's biggest tournament, becoming one of just a handful of New Jersey players ever to make it this far. Guaranteed a payout of at least $1 million, Gagliano returns to Las Vegas this week with a shot at the tournament's $10 million top prize.
If history is any indication, that's a good place to be.
The last New Jersey player to reach the Main Event final table was Brigantine's Scott Blumstein, who captured the 2017 championship and an $8.15 million payday.
Now Gagliano, a longtime BetMGM Poker ambassador and one of New Jersey's most accomplished poker professionals, has a chance to add another chapter to the state's poker legacy.
"It was definitely a relief," Gagliano said of reaching the final table. "I played poker for so many days straight and was just tired. Playing poker live for that many days in a row is mentally and physically exhausting."
From Rockaway home games to poker's biggest stage
The 41-year-old's journey to poker's biggest spotlight started decades ago in his mother's living room in Rockaway.
Long before he was winning bracelets and collecting millions in tournament earnings, Gagliano was organizing games with friends and family. Poker was part of the mix, but so were countless other card and board games.
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"We played home games in high school, just for pennies, all the crazy old classic card games," he recalled.
What attracted him wasn't necessarily the money. It was the strategy.
Even today, after more than two decades as a professional player, Gagliano remains fascinated by the blend of mathematics, psychology and uncertainty that sets poker apart from other competitive pursuits.
More: Central Jersey bar named one of best in US. What to try when you go
"Poker is the perfect combination of strategy, hidden information and hidden answers," he said. "Even after you make a play and see the result of the hand, there's no way to know for sure if what you did was correct."
Rutgers grad found his calling at the poker table
Originally from Staten Island, Gagliano moved to Morris County as a child and graduated from Morris Hills High School in 2003.
He later attended Rutgers University, earning a geology degree in 2007. But while he enjoyed science, poker increasingly demanded his attention.
The poker boom of the early 2000s coincided with Gagliano's college years, and he immersed himself in strategy books, online forums and emerging theory.
"I was fascinated by the game and got into trying to figure out strategies," he said. "Throughout college, I just kind of got more and more into it and started making money."
Eventually, poker income eclipsed what he earned at his regular job.
After becoming frustrated with that job, Gagliano decided to head to Las Vegas for the summer and see where poker might take him.
His original plan wasn't to become a professional player.
"Maybe in the back of my mind I was thinking that," he said. "But my mom was very much saying, 'After the summer, you're going to get a new job, right?'"
The new job never came.
Instead, Gagliano built a career that has produced more than $3.3 million in live tournament earnings and four WSOP bracelets.
A family affair
These days, Gagliano lives in Hunterdon County with his wife and two children, ages 9 and 12.
As television cameras followed his run through this year's Main Event, his family watched from home.
"I play live a handful of times a year, but the opportunities to be on streams and television are limited," Gagliano said. "Now that my kids are getting a bit older, they like seeing what I do."
He said reaching a televised final table created a special experience for his family, many of whom had never been able to watch him compete on such a large stage before.
You must be registered for see images attach
The support has extended far beyond relatives.
Gagliano said his phone filled with messages from former classmates, poker friends and people he hadn't spoken to in years.
More: 5 Central Jersey bars we wish made USA TODAY's list of the best
"It was just so cool seeing the support from people online and on social media," he said. "Just to know that they remembered interacting with me however many years ago and wanted to reach out and say they were rooting for me was really nice."
More than a player
While poker fans know Gagliano for his tournament results, his influence extends beyond the table.
Since 2009, he has coached more than 100 players and has spent years helping others improve their games.
He's also become a respected voice within the online poker industry. As a BetMGM Poker ambassador, he helps provide feedback on tournament structures, schedules and player experience.
Earlier this summer, he launched a free mobile app called the "Summer Poker Calendar" to help players navigate the hundreds of tournaments taking place throughout Las Vegas during the WSOP.
The project reflected something that's become increasingly important to him over the years: giving back to the poker community that helped shape his career.
One more mountain to climb
Despite his accomplishments, Gagliano says the Main Event final table represents something different.
"Being at the final table is every poker player's dream," he said.
The tournament resumes Aug. 3-5 at Paris Las Vegas, where nine players remain in contention for poker's most coveted title.
When play resumes, Gagliano will return with 46.5 million chips and a chance to turn a childhood hobby into a $10 million victory.
He insists he hasn't spent much time thinking about what winning would mean.
If it happens, maybe there will be a family vacation.
For now, he's focused on the same thing that first drew him to the game years ago.
"I've been at many final tables, both live and online, and even though this is the biggest stage, it's still just a tournament," Gagliano said. "I'm just going to try to stay grounded, make the best decisions I can and see what happens."
And after years of preparation, one New Jersey poker pro now finds himself just nine players away from history.
email: [email protected]
Cheryl Makin is an award-winning feature, news and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Only 9 remain. A NJ poker pro is chasing $10 million
Continue reading...
